Leroy Galbreath*
March 30, 1882-June 5, 1910
Niles Daily Sun, Monday, June 6, 1910, Page 1, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library
ROY GALBRAITH SHOT DEAD BY HIS BROTHER
Sunday Morning Tragedy was Purely Accidental
____
IN SLAIN MAN'S HOME
Victor Galbraith Did Not Know Gun Was Loaded
Leroy Galbraith, night watchman for several months at the National Wire Co., factory was accidentally shot and killed Sunday morning about 8 o'clock by his younger brother, Victor.
The tragedy occurred at the home of Leroy Galbraith on Lake street, near the home of Supervisor James Babcock.
The shooting, which was purely accidental, was done with a 38 -caliber automatic revolver belonging to Clete Forest, which the latter had loaned to the slain man.
Galbraith had a revolver of his own and it was the practice to empty the weapon of cartridges while in his own home as a precaution against such accidents as that which occurred with such tragic results.
The younger brother was not up when Leroy arrived home from his night's work and when he arose the new revolver became a subject for conversation and Victor picked it up to more critically examine it.
He took it for granted the weapon was empty and stepping over to the door to get a better light he pulled the trigger to snap it and the report that rang out followed by a cry of pain from his brother who was standing close by consummated the tragedy that plunged the home of the Galbraiths into the depths of sorrow in the twinkling of an eye.
"You have shot me." Leroy cried out to his brother, and then addressing his wife who was close by her husband he tried to reassure her that his injury was slight and that she should not be alarmed, but turning he walked out through the door as if dazed and would have fallen to the ground outside had not his brother and his wife rushed to to his side as they instantly seemed to realize that Leroy was more seriously injured than he would have them believe.
The wounded man bled profusely and died within five or ten minutes after he was shot and before a physician could be summoned or anything could be done to stanch the flow of his life's blood.
Dr. Baldwin was called and was quickly on the ground but poor Galbraith was past all surgical aid long before the Doctor arrived.
The shot entered the left breast about two inches above the nipple and in its passage through the body is supposed to have severed an artery over the heart which cause profuse hemorrhage.
The ball lodged in the back and no effort was made to extract it.
The dead man was about 28 years of age and besides his young wife leaves two small children.
The Galbraiths are recent comers to Niles from Tennessee, the father having bought the house in which the tragedy occurred and later sold it to the sons who lived together. The younger son is not married and made his home with his brother.
The elder Galbraith and the younger son are employes of the Garden City Fan Co.
Insurance not in Force
The slain man had just recently made application for insurance in both the New Era Association and the Modern Woodmen, but in neither case had matters progressed far enough to make the insurance available for the widow or children.
In the case of the Modern Woodmen his application had been filed, his physical examination had been made and approved and it only remained for the local camp to pass upon the same and for the candidate to take the customary obligation of the order to give his insurance full force. The dead man's papers were all ready for this part of the proceedings last Wednesday, but he called up the officers and stated that he would not appear to take the obligation that evening, because his brother had concluded to also join the order, and he would wait and both would go in at the same time.
The younger brother took his examination on Saturday and it is a singular fact that just about the time that the fatal shooting occurred H.E. Price, Clerk of the local camp, mailed the application of Victor Galbraith at the Niles post office. It was expected that these would be returned so that the brothers could have taken obligation on Wednesday evening of next week
The funeral of the unfortunate man will be held Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock from the late residence.
Niles Daily Star, Monday, June 6, 1910, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library
LEROY GALBREATH ACCIDENTALLY SHOT
DIED IN WIFE'S ARMS 10 MINUTES AFTERWARDS
BROTHER DID THE SHOOTING
Was Nightwatch at National Wire Cloth--Brothers Were Fooling With Weapons
Leroy Galbreath, 28 years old, of east Lake street, was accidentally shot and killed at his home yesterday morning about eight o'clock by his brother, Victor. The bullet was from a 32 caliber revolver and entered the body just above the left breast. Mr. Galbreath lived but ten minutes.
The deceased had worked at the National Wire Cloth factory as night watch for several months. During this time he had in his possession a small model Hopkins and Allen 32 caliber revolver. For several weeks he had tried to make a trade with Clete Forest who had the same make of a revolver only a larger model. Saturday a temporary trade was made and Sunday morning Galbreath took the weapon home with him.
His brother, Victor, an 18 years old boy, has been living with Leroy Galbreath and his wife on east Lake street since February. He was employed in the foundry at the Garden City Fan factory. He had a 32 caliber revolver of the same make as his brother's and when his brother came home yesterday morning they went into the kitchen to clean the revolvers. Victor had his finished before Leroy and must have filled the chamber with cartridges, although no one in the house at the time saw him, after which he went into the front room. Victor soon followed with his revolver which he left empty.
In the front room the boys engaged in a friendly conversation as to the working order of the revolvers, Leroy remarking that his worked with ease after the good oiling, but said nothing about it being loaded. Victor asked him for it and at the same time put both in his belt saying, "I guess I will go down and show them to mother, " the latter living several doors west of Leroy Galbreath's home. With these words he pulled the guns out of his belt and stuck them straight out. He was apparently doing this for effect. Not knowing his brother's revolver was loaded he snapped them both. The discharge was thought at first to have gone through the window so said the mother of the deceased man today. But at this moment the wounded man said, "Victor you have shot me but I guess it won't hurt much." His wife sprang to him and placing her arms around him helped him out doors into the yard where they walked about for a few minutes, while Victor ran down the road to the James Babcock farm to telephone for a physician. Before Victor had returned his brother died in the arms of his wife.
Coroner Platt was called to the scene but no jury was impaneled as it was not necessary to see that the affair was accidental.
Victor, who did the shooting is almost prostrated over the affair and is in the care of a physician as it is thought he will lose his mind. The boys had been the best of friends, never having a cross word.
The deceased came here from Franklin county, Tenn., last October. He worked on the Plym residence for a while and then received employment at the National Wire Cloth. About this time his wife and two children arrived from Tennessee and they went to home of the deceased man's mother, Mrs. O.B. Galbreath. Later the mother moved on west Lake street where she now lives. Victor, who had been living with his mother before his brother's arrival, took up his residence with his brother.
Besides a wife and two children, a girl four years old and a boy seven, the deceased is survived by a mother and father, three brothers and two sisters. All are living in Niles with the exception of one sister, who lives in Lacota, Mich. Funeral announcement later.
*Niles Daily Sun account refers to both brothers as "Galbraith". However, Death record, cemetery record and Niles Daily Star account all spell the name "Galbreath."